The base station connects to your PC via USB and connects to your existing Skype application or there is also a Skype client on the CD, this then enables the phone to connect using the DECT standard. The handset itself measures 47 x 132 x 34mm and is styled in the obligatory tech silver but has a very bright and useable colour screen which makes accessing your Skype address book simple.

Using the DECT handset is a dream, we made a series of calls both Skype to Skype and Skype to landline using SkypeOut, plus on our new Lordpercy.com number we took a number of incoming calls on SkypeIn. All of these worked well all around the offices even up to 30 meters away from the base station, in fact we found it difficult to tell the difference between the Linksys Skype handset and the Dect phone we normally use.

Perhaps the biggest difference is the quality of the Linksys CIT200 which with it's colour screen and good ergonomics was a joy to use, the speakerphone feature is very clear and good and loud too meaning the occasional conference call much easier. You can also access your Skype voicemail using the CIT200 its simple to recall messages and to manage them too.

The CIT200 can work with up to 4 handsets and then you can use the intercom feature to communicate between them, standby time on the 2 NiMH batteries is a very respectable 120 hours with a good 10 hours talk time meaning a full day of heavy use without needing to use the charger.

Call us snobs but there is something satisfying to have the Cisco logo on the cradle to remind us that Linksys and Cisco are from the same stable. That Cisco quality is evident in everything about the CIT200 from the good audio quality through to a nice loud ringtones and solid feel of the unit when in your hand. Unlike a few "conversions" this is a DECT handset created with VOIP in mind and most of the Skype features are brought to your handset even when you are well away from the PC. Of course you do have to have the PC switched on and perhaps that's the next logical step for DECT Skype phones to be able to run the Skype application on a Linux enabled base station, thus making the phone work when the PC is off.

Overall our tests showed this to be a reliable way of using Skype without being tied to your PC, clearly Linksys have designed this unit for VOIP and having set out with that in mind it works well with Skype and has become a firm favourite in the office.

priced at around £80 the Linksys CIT200 isn't the cheapest Skype phone, but with a seamless integration of DECT and Skype all in an attractive reliable package it's worth the investment.

Published - 18/10/2005

More DECT Phones-

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